Baxter Regional Medical Center awarded the first recipients of the Robert
L. Kerr Annual Medical Student Scholarship in a ceremony August 12 in
Little Rock. Medical students from the Baxter Regional service areas were
recognized and awarded the scholarship in support of tuition for medical school.
Dr. Robert L. and Mrs. Kerr attended the event. Dr. Kerr, longtime physician
in Mountain Home now retired in Little Rock, encouraged each of the students
in their chosen career in medicine. He shared a personal message with
the students, two of whom he had delivered at birth. andldquo;When I was
in college preparing to go to medical school, I worked at our local hospital.
Our doctors in Dermott were great family docs. They told me, however,
that I was crazy for going into medicine because the government was about
to take over. Of course, Medicare did come along, but I had 40 years of
a career in medicine that I really enjoyed. I took care of up to 5 generations
of some families. I liked that and they seemed to also.” He went
on to say, “You have chosen well. A career in medicine will not
be the same as it was in the past but it was not the same for me either.
You will have the opportunity to be a respected member of your community,
to take care of people, and have a great relationship with your patients.”
The scholarship recipients were welcomed by Baxter Regional President and
CEO, Ron Peterson, who then introduced Executive Director, Baxter Regional
Hospital Foundation, Barney Larry. Larry described the Kerr Medical Student
Scholarship as andldquo;a way to honor a great man and great physician,
Dr. Robert L. Kerr, who served our community for many years.”
This yearandrsquo;s Kerr Scholarship recipients are Ryan Adkins, Michael
Clarke, Delia Lee, Richard Millstein, John Neis, Garrett Nelson, Stephanie
Recktenwald Pereira, Bradley Petkovich, Jason Talburt, and Robbie Hurtt.
Scholarship(s) will be presented annually. To be eligible, students must
show proof of enrollment in an accredited medical program leading to a
degree of medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy and demonstrate permanent
residency in the BRMC designated service area (including the following
counties: Baxter, Marion, Fulton, Izard, Sharp, Stone, and Searcy, Arkansas,
and Ozark County, Missouri). For more information, contact Bobbi Brown,
Physician Recruitment Coordinator at 870-508-1010 or
bbrown@baxterregional.org.